TUSCALOOSA, Ala.
-- Patrick Murphy's decision was made easier when he heard Jackie
Traina utter the two words that rarely come out of her mouth on the day
of a big game.

"I'm sore."

The
Alabama softball coach never planned to start his ace, but Murphy
figured he might have to use Traina at some point during Saturday's SEC
tournament championship game against Florida. When the 2012 SEC Pitcher
of the Year uncharacteristically admitted to some soreness after
throwing 606 pitches in five of Alabama's last six games, Murphy
further lessened his expectations.

"She usually doesn't say that," Murphy said.

The
Crimson Tide's power-heavy, timely offense and a gutsy effort in the
circle from senior Amanda Locke made sure Traina wouldn't have to throw a
single warmup pitch.

Locke
didn't need much support, but she received a non-stop supply in the
Crimson Tide's 10-1, five-inning victory before an SEC Tournament record
2,672 fans at Rhoads Stadium. The Alabama-dominant crowd was the first
in the tournament's history to see its favorite team win it all.

"You
can have a definite home-field advantage. We have it here," Murphy
said. "I don't think the other teams would want it to be here every
year."

The
tournament championship is Alabama's first since 2010, fifth in program
history and just the second time it's captured both the regular season
title and tournament title in the same year. Making it sweeter for the
Crimson Tide (50-7) was that it came against the Gators (46-11), who
knocked it out of last year's College World Series with back-to-back
routs.

"While
that was a part of it, we couldn't let that affect us that much,"
rightfielder Jazlyn Lunceford said. "There's no other group of people
I'd rather get the win with.

"I think that's why we're so successful because everybody knows their part and they're good at it."

When
he recruited Locke out of North Mesquite High in Texas four years ago,
Murphy saw a great hitter who could also help in the circle. And that's
largely what she's done throughout her Alabama career, particularly this
season.

Before
she made the biggest start of her career Saturday, Locke, who is second
on the team with 17 home runs, had pitched 17 times this season, the
majority of which came in relief. She learned that she'd be the starter
against one of the best offenses in college softball just hours before
the noon first pitch.

"Just
knowing that your coach has your back and your teammates have your
back, it's the best feeling," Locke said. "It sets you up for
greatness."

Locke
surrendered her only run of the game in the second inning on a two-out
single by Florida's Kasey Fagan. She kept the Gators off balance and
mostly off the bases the rest of the way in her first complete game
since her freshman year.

"She
has all the confidence in the world and she should," Lunceford said.
"She's just the kind of teammate that always has your back, whether
she's in the circle or in the box."

Alabama's coaches bring it in for a group hug after Saturday's win. (UA Photo)

Locke's
teammates certainly had her back, as they pounced on Florida starter
Lauren Haeger for two runs in the first inning and didn't relent even
when Hannah Rogers was summoned to the circle after Alabama's six-run
third inning.

Speedy
outfielders Kayla Braud and Jennifer Fenton set the table for shortstop
Kaila Hunt with no outs in the first. Hunt drove them both in with a
triple to right-center field.

Hunt
added another RBI, her third of four on the day, with an infield single
in the third inning. It was just the beginning of Alabama's six-run
onslaught.

Hunt
and Locke both scored when Lunceford hit a three-run home run, her
seventh of the season, off the scoreboard in left-center field. Two
batters later, Kendall Dawson followed with a two-run home run that
squeezed just inside the left-field foul pole and nearly took out an
ESPN cameraman in the process.

Before
last week's series, Florida had surrendered just eight home runs on the
season. In four games against the Gators, Alabama hit five.

"It's
just one of those days where our hitters picked really good pitches,"
Murphy said. "We got some good hacks and they fell for us today."